Fastening device



Feb. 20, 1934. E. PoETER FASTENING DEVICE IHN it" tening device of this character which will op- Patented Feb. 20, 1934 PATENT ori-lcsv 1,947,490 Fas'rENrNG DEVICE Edward Poeter, Irvington, N.

Poeter & Co., Irvington, N. J.,

New Jersey J., assignor to E. ai corporation of Application September 21, 1931 Serial No. 564,118

3 Claims.

Y This invention relates to fastening devices, and more particularly to a fastener for handbags and analogous receptacles.

In its broader aspects, the invention has for its general object and purpose to provide a fasterate to securely latch or hold the complementary frame members in closed position against relative movement; which is simple and durable in its construction and provides an ornamental adjunct or embellishment for such bag frames;

and which, while easily operable by the owner to permit opening of the bag, isof such construction as to frustrate the surreptitious opening of the bag without detection.

It is a more particular object of the invention to provide a fastener for bag lframes and the like embodying a supporting plate rigidly fixed to one of the bag frame members and means for securely mounting upon said plate an ornamental latch button pivotally movable on a vertical axis and having means adapted to cooperate with a latch stud on the other frame member to releasably hold or secure said frame members in I close face to face contact.

With the above and other objects in view, the

invention consists in the improved fastening device, and in the form, construction and relative arrangement of the several parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and subsequently incorporated in the subjoined claims.

' In the drawing, wherein I have disclosed several simple and practical embodiments of the invention, and in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a handbag frame of one well known type provided with my improved fastening device;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional View on an enlarged scale taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 and showing the frame members latched together in closed position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view illustrating the movable latch member in operated position and the bag frames in separated relation;

, Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

. Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

' Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 2, illustrating a slightly modified form oi' the invention applied to another type of bag frame, and

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Fig. 6.

Referring in detail to the drawing, and for the present more particularly to Figs.l 1 to 5 thereof, 5 and 6 respectively, designate two complemen- 60 tary bag frame members which are hingedly connected with each other at their corresponding ends in the usual manner (not shown). In this instance, each of these frame members is of the inverted channel shaped form, now well known and widely used in the art and in which the outer sides of the respective frame members are covered and concealed by the iiexible bag or pouch material which has its edges secured in the frame channels.

Upon the top or intermediate portion of the frame member 5 at the approximate center thereof, a latch supporting plate 'I is rigidly secured. Preferably, though not necessarily, this plate is of rectangular form, and projects transversely in opposite directions from the frame member. While various means might be employed for rigidly fixing or mounting this plate upon the frame member, as herein shown, I provide said plate upon the under side thereof and between so its opposite longitudinal edges with a iiange or web 8 disposed perpendicularly with respect to the plane of said plate. Preferably, the inner wall of the frame member 5 at its central portion is of relatively greatwidth to provide an upstanding flange thereon as indicated at 9 and upon the upper edge of which the plate 7 is seated. The web 8 extends downwardly in contact with one side of the flange 9 and theinner wall of the frame member ,within the channel thereof, the part of said web disposed in the channel being relatively thin as indicated at 8 so as to permit of the ready insertion of the edge of the bag fabric or material within said channel. At longitudinally spaced points, the lower edge of the web 8 is provided with the downwardly extending threaded studs 10 adapted for engagement through spaced openings 1l provided in the base wall of the frame channel and receiving the nuts 12. These nuts are adjusted into tight bearing contact against the base wall of the channel member and thereby hold the plate 7 in a rigidly nxed position upon the upper edge of the flange 9 of the frame member. The supporting plate 'I for the movable latch 105 button kto be presently described, is centrally provided with a transversely extending slot 13 opening Vupon one longitudinal edge of said plate to receive the latch stud 14 which is suitably fixed to the inner wall of the other frame member 6 'no and projects therefrom above the ange 9 of the frame member when said members are in closed position.

The ornamental latch button generally indicated at is mounted for turning or pivotal movement on a vertical axis upon the supporting plate 7. As herein shown, this button includes a body member 16 which may be formed from Y,

hard rubber, metal, celluloid or other suitable material and cf any desired external ornamental. configuration. This body member is hollow, or formed with the cavity indicated at 17 opening upon the bottom face thereof. This open side of the cavity is closed by the base plate 18 securely fixed to the body member 16 as by means of the screws 19.

rIo the supporting plate 7 in line with the slot 13 and spaced from the closed end thereof, an upstanding pin or post 20 is rigidly fixed at. one of its' ends and loosely engaged through an opening provided in the base plate 18 whereby said plate together with the body member 16 may freely turn or pivot upon said post. Above the plate 18, said post is provided with a shoulder, collar or other retaining means 21, whereby the movable latch button is securely retained in assembled relation uponthe plate 7.v Atr one side of the pivot post or pin 20 and in spaced relation thereto, a guide or stop pin 22 is also xed at one of its ends in the plate 7 and extends through the arcuate slot 23 in the plate 18. At the opposite side of the pivot post 20 and in spaced relation therefrom, the stud 24 is fixed to the plate 18. A coil wire spring 25 surrounds the post 20 above the shoulder 21, the ends of said spring being extended in opposite directions and engaged respectively, against the pin 22 and stud 24. This spring yieldingly acts to hold the movable latch button in a normal position in parallel relation with the supporting plate 7.

The base plate 18 of the latch button is furtherprovided with a transversely extending slot 26 having a widened or aring entrance 27 openingl upon one edge of said plate and providing an obliquely inclined cam edge 28 at one side of said entrance. The inner end of this slot is formed with a short lateral extension 29 thereby forming at the inner end of the cam edge 28 the locking shoulder 30, which, in the normal position of the latch button overlies the inner end of the slot 13- in the fixed plate 7.

It will be understood from the above description, upon reference to Fig. 2 of the drawing tha-t when the bag frame members are in closed face to face contact, the stud 14 on the member- 6 is positioned in theinner end of the slot 13 and is securely held against movement in said slot by the shoulder 30 of the plate 18 engaging over the outer side of said stud. In order to release the frame members for relative movement, the button is turned upon the pivot post 26 in a clockwise direction against the action of the spring 25, thus disposing the base plate 18 of said button to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing with respect to the fixed supporting plate 7 and disengaging the shoulder 30 from stud 14, whereupon the frame members 5 and 6 may be movedr apart into separated relation, the stud 14 of the member 6 moving outwardly through the slots 13 and 26. Upon release of the button, it is returned to its normal position by the spring .25.

When the two frame members are again brought to closed position, thel stud 14 on the member 6 upon entering the outer end of slot11'3 engagesthe camY edge 28 of platel 1-'8 whicheverlies said slot, and thus pivotally moves the button upon its post 20 against the action of spring 25 until said stud is positioned beyond the shoulder 30 and in the inner end of slot 13, whereupon the spring returns the button to its normal locking position shown inFig. 2 of the drawing.

vIn Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawing,I have shown a slightly modified form of the device as applied to an ordinary bag frame, in which the relatively movable frame members have inwardly opening channels. In this case, the supporting plate 7 is soldered or otherwise rigidly xed to the top wall ofthe frame member 5. The studs 22' and 22.a are i'lxed in the plate 7 and extend upwardly through the arcuate guide slots 23' and 23a respectively. Each of these studs may be provided withA the shoulder or other equivalent means indicated at 31 overlying the upper surface of the base plate 18 of the latch button and constitute additional means for retaining said button in assembled relation upon the supporting plate 7. The latch stud 14 carried by the other frame member 6, is suitably securedto the top wall of said frame member. Otherwise, the constructiony isthe same as that above referred to, and operates toreleasablylatch the frame members to l` gether in closed position in the mannerl previously described.

From the above descriptiom considered in` connection with the accompanying drawing, it will be seen that I have devised a very simple and effective latch orv fastening device which is. particularly advantageous for use. in connectionv with handbags and analogous articles. The pivoted latch button is capable ofr production in an inlnite variety of ornamental forms, and while,

this button may be easily operated when it is desired to open the. bag, such operation never.- theless, requires a firm grasp upon said button and the bag frame member 6 sothatv the possibility of the surreptitious opening of the bag and theft of its contents, Without detection is obviated. The several, mechanical parts of the device are of exceedingly simple form, and may be easily and quickly assembled in proper operative position upon the frame of the handbag.

I have herein shown and described several de,- sirablefpractical embodimentsv of the essential features. of my'invention, but it will nevertheless, be understood that the same may be incorporated in Vvarious other alternative structural forms, and I, accordingly reserve the privilege of resorting to all such legitimate changes therein as may be. fairly embodied within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

I claim: 1. In combinationV withA complementary bag frame members of channel shape in cross section, one of said'` frame members having a flange projecting outwardly from its inner wall in the plane thereof, fastening means for said frame members comprising a plate engaged upon the upper edge of saidk flange and projecting transversely in oppositey directions therefrom, means dependingfrom said plate into the channel of the frame member' and cooperating with one wall thereof torigidly and detachably fix said plate in its applied position, said'platehavingA a transverse slot therein opening onv one longitudinal edge of theplate, a stud projecting outwardly from the inner wall of the other frame member tobe received insaid slot, anda spring held fastening button pivotally mounted on said plate and having means toy cooperate-with saidl stud 1.50

and releasably retain said frame members in face to face contact with each other.

2. In a hand bag frame having a frame member of U shape in cross section providing an outwardly opening channel receiving the edges of the hand bag fabric, means for detachably mounting a fastener device upon said frame member in outwardly spaced relation from the open side of the channel therein, said means comprising a horizontally disposed metal plate having a web centrally projecting from one side of said plate at right angles to the'plane thereof and extending within the channel of the frame member, and in closely contacting engagement with one side wall thereof, said side wall of the frame member having a projecting part abutting against the lower face of said plate, said web adjacent its opposite ends having threaded studs projecting through openings in the base of the frame channel, and nuts threaded upon said studs to detachably retain the fastener supporting means in connection with said frame member, and rigidly secure said plate and the web against movement relative to the walls of the frame channel.

3. In ahand bag frame having a frame member provided with an outwardly opening channel to receive the edges of the hand bag fabric, said member having a flange projecting outwardly from one side wall in the plane thereof; means for detachably mounting a fastener device upon said frame member, comprising. a metal plate engaged upon the longitudinal edge of said iiange and projecting transversely in opposite directions therefrom, and in outwardly spaced relation from the open side ofl said channel, and means carried by said plate to rigidly and detachably secure the same to said frame member.

EDWARD POETER. 

